Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Russian Jack Springs Park VIP Committee Holds Its Sixth Meeting - draft summary

Attendees for the on-site final meeting of the nRJSP VIP on June 7, 2011 were: 
Fred McLeary, Kathy Lyn Thompson, Kathleen Plunket, Frank Desroches, Terry Cummings, Carla McConnell, Don Brooks, Clif Reagle, Beth Nordlund, Tim Kosednar, Marc Grober, Tess Nott, Kep Pierce, John Rodda, Peter Briggs & Suzanne Little

The group reviewed preliminary design information by Corvus with depictions of each of the elements prioritized by the group at the last meeting including:
  • Trail Lighting – $100,000 - design team determined that bringing electricity from the NW side would provide more lighting for the money than bringing conduit and wire from the transformer on DeBarr.
  • Building improvements – main water line to building is not functional – may be able to leverage current construction project to provide excavation for repairs, although repairs may take whole $50,000 budget
  • Fenced Dog Area – $15,000 funding adequate to complete 50 foot by 50 foot enclosure at 4 feet in height with fence preventing entrance by dogs onto Boniface
  • Signage – $20,000 one main park entry sign, two smaller park signs, friendly rules signs and wayfinding signage on trails
  • Park Entry & Playground – $300,000 (combined) includes trail connections to sidewalks and existing trails with measured walking loop along with welcoming entry to park and play components
  • Parking reconfigured 120-space parking to eliminate pedestrian-vehicle crossings - new parking must be paved and lit – estimated cost $200,000
  • Tennis – Committee wishes 4 rehabilitated tennis courts costing $200,000 - the committee allocated $65,000 – the tennis court construction can not be accomplished without sufficient funding
  • Picnic Shelter  - Committee allocated $100,000 but the shelter is not included in this phase of work to maximize work on other elements
The review of the reconfigured parking / entry area engendered opposition from some committee members regarding removal of trees for parking.  John Rodda requested suggestions for parking configurations that would work by drawing the solution on the plan at the meeting. A sketch was accomplished that would not require removal of trees and it was determined that further refinement of the concept would be completed by 5 PM Tuesday, June 14th to be e-mailed to the whole committee.  The committee would get comments back (reply to ALL) by 5 PM on Friday June 17th. Discussion (as summarized by John Rodda) was that the design would be acceptable to the group if the revised drawing showed a design that eliminated the removal of trees from the treed area to the south of the tennis courts. This would be accomplished by reconfiguring the community/play areas, trails, tennis court and other elements on the plan that was shown to the group.

The group walked through the restroom building which was observed to be in very rough shape.